Windows service NOT shown in add remove programs u

Question

I installed my windows service via (name of the service: Testing Service)

InstallUtil.exe present in .NET Framework (:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\FrameWork64\v4) in a windows 7 computer.

I can see my service under services console.

However, i went to programs and features of control panel to manually uninstall the same service, i didn't see my services under programs and features?

Any thoughts why a service will not be shown, so that, user can uninstall it?

I checked the show hidden files too, but still service not shown?

Answer 1

There is a Microsoft Visual Studio 2017 Installer available via Tools->Extensions and Updates

This official Microsoft Extension provides support for Visual Studio Installer Projects in VS2017

Answer 2

InstallUtil.exe: As others have stated, InstallUtil.exe is intended for development use only, not for final distribution of your service.

MSI: The normal way to deploy services in the fashion you describe (with a proper entry in add/remove programs) would be to use an MSI installer created using a tool designed to help you do so (it is not advisable to "roll your own" tool to do this).

---

UPDATE:

Free MSI Tools: How can I compare the content of two (or more) MSI files? (towards bottom) - (most of) these are not full-featured tools to make setups, but great to inspect MSI files and to create transforms.

---

Deployment Tool: There are many tools you can use, for example (arbitrary order):

• WiX - quick download - (free, open source framework - excellent, but with a learning curve, hence a few more links). WiX's commercial branch FireGiant has a WiX expansion pack (which costs money).
  • Windows Installer and the creation of WiX (what is the idea behind WiX?)
  • WiX quick-start tips (a bit chaotic, strangely upvoted, must be helpful)
  • How to install and start a Windows Service using WiX
  • Documentation: ServiceInstall, ServiceControl
  • Untested: How to create a Windows Service MSI Installer Using WiX
• Advanced Installer - quick download - (installing services, how-to).
  • Some free features
  • Here is a great gateway to all things Advanced Installer
• Installshield - quick download - (service FAQ)
  • There is an Installshield Lite version. Unsure of its feature set. Costs money.
• PACE suite - quick download - (maybe search for "services" here - page 50)
• Or a similar third party tool used to create MSI files (there are many)
• Visual Studio 2017: There is also the Visual Studio Installer project type in Visual Studio (VS 2017 sample) (which I would not really recommend - especially if you have other, advanced deployment requirements. It is very basic, and there are many severe limitations).
• dotNetInstaller: There is also the dotNetInstaller Setup Bootstrapper - which I have never used. Here it is on github.com (source). Just a bootstrapper, not a development tool as such. I find this tool "a bit weird".

---

Links: Some links on the topic of MSI creation:

• How to create windows installer (recommended overview)
• What installation product to use? InstallShield, WiX, Wise, Advanced Installer, etc (a little old)

Some General Links:

• Error Creating a 7-zip installer package (7-Zip, iExpress and other self-extractor creators)
• Combine exe and msi file in one installer (recommended)
• Visual Studio 2017 Installer Project - include VC++ 2015 Redistributable (WiX Burn Quick Start)
• Additional Setup in Visual Studio Installer Projects

Answer 3

InstallUtil only performs actions exposed by your .Net Installer classes, such as registering a service.

It does not perform the "standard" application installation which results in the entries being added into add/remove programs.

To do this, you will need to look at various install builders such as Wix, Installshield, etc.

Answer 4

Installutil.exe (Installer Tool)

The Installer tool is a command-line utility that allows you to install and uninstall server resources by executing the installer components in specified assemblies.

Its job in life is to do exactly that,

To fill in your knowledge you should read through this

Chapter 2. Install/Uninstall

You will notice this is an entirely different concept, and actually has all the information you need (albeit in a very verbose manner)

There are various ways to achieve what you are after, one of them is using out of the box installation software, MSI, click once, or many others. or you could roll your own by using the above resources